Is the oil industry using unsafe rail cars to transport crude?

As I write this, there is oil spilling from a CP Rail derailment in Saskatchewan. We don’t know the full impact yet, but this follows another CP spill on northern Ontario last month when the company first said that the spill was only 4 barrels, but the next day said it was 400 barrels.

Moving oil by rail is in the political spotlight thanks to the debate over the Keystone XL pipeline. Speaking in New York last week, Prime Minister Harper argued that the US government needs to choose between moving tar sands oil by pipeline or rail, and he said that pipelines are safer.

Transport Canada considers crude oil to be a “dangerous good” and thus can only be transported in certain types of rail tanker cars. Diluted bitumen, according to Greenpeace's correspondence with Transport Canada, “is NOT a regulated dangerous good, so the requirement for the selection and use of a prescribed rail car would not apply for this product.”

Over two thirds of the cars in the continental tanker fleet that are allowed to carry dangerous goods are classified as “DOT 11”. This type of tanker car has a “high incidence of tank failures during accidents” according to the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) and as prone “to release product at derailment and impact” according to the Canadian Transportation Safety Board.

“During a number of accident investigations over a period of years, the NTSB has noted that DOT-111 tank cars have a high incidence of tank failures during accidents… DOT-111 tank cars make up about 69 percent of the national tank car fleet. This accident demonstrates the need for extra protection such as head shields, tank jackets, more robust top fittings protection, and modification of bottom outlet valves on DOT-111 tank cars used to transport hazardous materials. The NTSB concludes that if enhanced tank head and shell puncture-resistance systems such as head shields, tank jackets, and increased shell thicknesses had been features of the DOT-111 tank cars involved in this accident, the release of hazardous materials likely would have been significantly reduced, mitigating the severity of the accident.”

“The susceptibility of 111A tank cars to release product at derailment and impact is well documented. The transport of a variety of the most hazardous products in such cars continues.”

Derailments are not uncommon. According to Emile Therien, Past President of the Canada Safety Council, there were 103 derailments in 2011 on “main tracks” (i.e. the lines between stations and or terminals) and 485 derailments on “non-main tracks” (mainly in yards or terminals).

New tanker cars have to meet a higher standard, but the rail industry has resisted pressure to upgrade their existing fleet, which still carries the majority of liquid hazardous cargo like crude oil. The NTSB has also noted that by combining DOT-111 cars with other, safer, tank cars reduces the safety benefits of the new tankers.

Rapid increase in the amount of oil being moved by rail

With Canada’s export pipelines increasingly clogged, the oil industry is turning to rail as an alternative way to get their product to market. Though still a relatively small proportion of total oil moved, it is growing fast. According to data from the National Energy Board, the amount of oil exported on rail went from nothing in 2008 to 2 per cent of exports in 2012, jumping ten-fold between 2011 and 2012 alone.

Will the federal government act to protect communities from crude oil being spilled from rail cars?

So the question is: if the Prime Minister is concerned over the safety of moving oil by rail, will he require companies moving hazardous products like crude oil or bitumen (and other toxic products) to avoid using DOT-111 tanker cars? Or is he willing to cut corners on safety in order to get oil to market, no matter what the cost?

the government should always regulate and inspect this company if it's running their business in the a proper way.they should always think the saf...

the government should always regulate and inspect this company if it's running their business in the a proper way.they should always think the safety of the people considering their health condition if the oil spills occur,next to the environment if what are the possible damages happen it its' occur.They should always think this not only their profit of their business.

Post a comment

Sign in now and avoid filling in forms! Not registered?
Sign up here
or login via facebook or google.

(Unregistered) K.T.F.
says:

This is an excellent example of why environmental organizations should be pushing for the approval of pipelines such as Northern Gateway and Keystone ...

This is an excellent example of why environmental organizations should be pushing for the approval of pipelines such as Northern Gateway and Keystone XL. Not only is transportation by pipe safer, but it is much easier to ensure they are regulated and the rules enforced. A pipeline can never just change route or change the type of rail car in use. You know exactly where it is and where to look to see if things are being done correctly.

Shipping by rail is much more expensive than shipping by rail. Companies will be willing to pay a portion of the costs saved by using pipes versus rail to help maintain and monitor the pipelines if it means getting them approved. Environmental causes should use the "free markets" to their benefits rather then trying to stop them. Expecting no development is a goal that will not be achieved, but moving in a direction that puts up significant protection and regulation in place for development that can be monitored is better than having the "free market" find a way to circumvent the system resulting in little to no protection.

Post a comment

Sign in now and avoid filling in forms! Not registered?
Sign up here
or login via facebook or google.

(Unregistered) sathyam
says:

Nowadays natural fuels such as oil and gas are in threat because of solar energy and bio fuel but prodigy oil and gas company things that the day of t...

Nowadays natural fuels such as oil and gas are in threat because of solar energy and bio fuel but prodigy oil and gas company things that the day of total eco friendly energy are not coming to early it will take more then hundred years to learn and make our equipment extensible for these to use so the market of oil and gas are save till 2110.

Post a comment

Sign in now and avoid filling in forms! Not registered?
Sign up here
or login via facebook or google.

railway sleepers
says:

The hazardous nature of the cargoes on board, the vast majority of these tank cars do not meet the latest safety standards and should be retrofitted, ...

The hazardous nature of the cargoes on board, the vast majority of these tank cars do not meet the latest safety standards and should be retrofitted, according to federal officials and the railroad industry.